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Join the Server“Oh, isn’t that Miss Jeanne?”
The voice from the street caught both Jeanne Decker and Alice Liddell’s attention, causing them to turn their heads simultaneously.
By a street vendor’s stall, Martha, who had sold them pancakes in the commercial district before, was waving enthusiastically. Beside her, Leah sat reading a book under the dim glow of an oil lamp.
Upon seeing Jeanne Decker and Alice Liddell approach, Leah rose and gave a slight bow.
As Martha had mentioned previously, she usually set up her stall on the streets near the academy.
“Oh, the young lady from last time is here too! Are you two on another date today?” Martha’s eyes lit up when she saw Alice Liddell. “It’s a rare chance; how about two grilled pancakes?”
“Martha, why are you still selling at this hour?” Jeanne Decker asked, surprised to see her acquaintance. “Things haven’t been peaceful lately. Haven’t you heard?”
“Oh, that Ripper murder case? Don’t worry,” Martha waved her hand dismissively, devoid of any sense of danger. “I heard that Killer only targets nobles and the wealthy. He wouldn’t bother with a poor wretch like me.”
“Stop jesting and go home quickly,” Jeanne Decker insisted. “Leah, too.”
“Alright, I get it!” Martha raised her hands in surrender, then squinted her eyes shrewdly, holding up two fingers. “I’ll sell two more and then I’ll go home! Just two more, really, only two.”
Jeanne Decker and Alice Liddell exchanged glances, both smiling helplessly.
“You’re impossible,” Jeanne Decker said, pulling out her wallet. “This time, I’m treating. Give us one each. My usual, please. And Miss Liddell?”
“I’ll… have the candied apple one this time.” Alice Liddell deliberately bypassed her usual chocolate flavor.
“Coming right up!” Martha immediately set to work, while Leah silently helped beside her. Soon, two warm, grilled pancakes were handed to the two customers.
“Now you should really go home. Where do you live, by the way? I’ll walk you part of the way.” Jeanne Decker asked.
“Hehe, I actually live in the suburbs. A neighboring couple has a donkey cart they use to come into the city market in the mornings to sell things, and they go back in the evenings. I give them a bag of flour every month, and they let me ride with them every day. You don’t need to worry.”
Martha grinned, pointing into the distance. “Look, here they come!”
Jeanne Decker and Alice Liddell turned their heads to see a donkey cart slowly approaching from afar. A middle-aged man drove the donkey, and a woman held a lantern.
Martha waved vigorously at the two.
“You…” Jeanne Decker looked at Martha, then at the grilled pancake in her hand, a hint of surprise in her voice. “You schemed this, didn’t you?”
“How can you call it scheming? It’s an honest transaction between young and old,” Martha blinked her eyes innocently. “Besides, I didn’t lie. I said I’d sell the last two, and now I’m packing up.”
“Fine, I’m relieved knowing someone will take you home,” Jeanne Decker said, shaking her head helplessly. “Let’s go, Miss Liddell.”
Alice Liddell nodded. Each holding a grilled pancake, they continued walking. Behind them, Martha called out loudly, “Keep supporting my business tomorrow! I’ll always give you extra!”
Alice Liddell turned her head, smiling and waving. This cheerful girl was truly endearing.
“It must be tough, setting up a stall here every day, all the way from the city outskirts,” Jeanne Decker suddenly remarked.
“It’s all to make a living, isn’t it?” Alice Liddell agreed, taking a bite of her candied apple pancake.
‘It’s dreadfully sweet. Why does Jeanne like this flavor?’
The two chatted desultorily as they walked. Five minutes later, they arrived at Alice Liddell’s residence.
“Miss Liddell, you live here?” Jeanne Decker was surprised, looking at the apartment building on the street.
The apartment seemed decent enough, but by aristocratic standards, for a duchess like Alice Liddell to rent an apartment was rather demeaning.
“I find living this way more comfortable. I’m actually an illegitimate child, and I used to live a commoner’s life. I can take care of myself,” Alice Liddell replied calmly.
Jeanne Decker thought that this girl was somewhat similar to herself. She nodded. ‘Indeed, I also feel that as long as the conditions are sufficient, it’s fine. Too much pomp makes it less comfortable to live.’
Alice Liddell was about to blurt out, “Would you honor my humble abode with your presence for a visit?” when she suddenly remembered uttering the exact same line to Jeanne Decker when she was Levi. She quickly stopped herself.
Having experienced her previous blunder, she had learned her lesson.
However, not inviting the other person seemed impolite. So, after a moment of deliberation, she spoke in a tone entirely different from before: “Senior Jeanne, would you like to come to my place for a cup of tea? Or perhaps just a casual dinner?”
“No, I need to get home early. Dinner should already be ready.”
Jeanne Decker politely declined.
“Alright then, be careful on your way.” Though a little reluctant, Alice Liddell could only wave goodbye to Jeanne Decker here.
Jeanne Decker watched Alice Liddell enter the apartment, then turned and walked in the direction of the Alençon family mansion.
For some reason, despite having only met Duchess Alice Liddell twice, she felt no sense of estrangement when interacting with her.
It was a peculiar feeling. Even when walking side by side, in moments of silence, there was no awkwardness, as if she had grown accustomed to the other’s presence a long time ago.
The sky had completely darkened. Outside a few houses along the road, scattered kerosene lamps flickered to life.
Jeanne Decker did not see any hired carriages, so she walked straight towards the main road.
Ahead, the Golden Water River, which cut through Glorious City, was spanned by a stone bridge. By this point, there were practically no pedestrians left on the road.
The Golden Water River was always veiled in a hazy mist at dusk during this season. Jeanne Decker walked onto the bridge, enveloped in the thin fog.
After only a few steps, a blurred figure appeared before her. Jeanne Decker could vaguely make out that the person was wearing a cloak, seemingly standing on one side of the bridge, gazing at the river.
‘What could they possibly see on the bridge in such a heavy mist?’ Jeanne Decker wondered.
Noticing the person was on her side of the bridge, Jeanne Decker moved a few steps towards the other side as she continued forward.
Suddenly, the person moved, shifting a few steps in her direction, once again blocking Jeanne Decker’s path.
Jeanne Decker sensed something was amiss and stopped near the center of the bridge.
As she drew closer, she saw the person hunched over, arms crossed, head bowed to conceal their face, exuding a palpable air of suspicion.
“Is something wrong?” Jeanne Decker asked, her hand already resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist.
“Hmph.” The person let out a cold laugh, speaking in a raspy voice. “A suspicious person like me appears before you, and you still can’t guess who I am? I thought I was already famous enough in this city.”
Jeanne Decker gasped, drawing her sword without hesitation.
Simultaneously, the person extended their hands from the sleeves of their cloak, revealing hideous, black-shelled claws.
“Ah, the Saintess of the Church…” The Killer, the Ripper, raised their face, a sinister grin twisting their lips. “You are my next prey.”
You’ve got to see this next! Villainess, You're Supposed to Be Evil, So Stop Oozing Hearts! will keep you on the edge of your seat. Start reading today!
Read : Villainess, You're Supposed to Be Evil, So Stop Oozing Hearts!
